What a story Curry Barker’s “Obsession” is turning into. The film earned $6M on Friday and is projected to make $22M in its second weekend. Its opening weekend was $17M, meaning it’s headed for a staggering +29% increase. Insane. The word of mouth on this film is incredible.
Furthermore, it’s looking very likely that the film will hit the $100M mark — not just worldwide, but potentially domestically as well. As far as I can tell, only three other films made for under $1M have managed to hit $100M: “The Blair Witch Project,” “Mad Max,” and “Paranormal Activity.”
Focus picked up “Obsession” at TIFF for $15M, but word is starting to spread that the actual production budget — the money Barker amassed to make this horror indie hit — was just $750K. An astonishing performance for a film made on such a small budget.
No wonder studios were surrounding Barker immediately after the TIFF premiere. He quickly inked a deal to make a film with Paramount, shot a film with Focus starring Aaron Paul, and was hired by A24 to direct their “Texas Chainsaw” debut. Not bad for a filmmaker who just turned 26.
We also have the first details about that Focus project, titled “Anything But Ghosts,” from Barker himself, who says: “It’s about two ghost-hunter con artists who tell people they’re cleansing the spirits in their house, but they’re basically glorified magicians. They’re just really good at putting on a show.”
One filmmaker who’s been following Barker closely is Zach Cregger, one of the hottest horror directors working right now, who said he was “so impressed with ‘Obsession’” and “thought it was really, really special.”
All I want to know is: when does Inde Navarrette’s Oscar campaign begin? She is the absolute standout in “Obsession” — her performance is deranged, hilarious, and terrifying all at once. She wails, grins, and stalks with a level of commitment that deserves recognition.
Padraic McKinley, who directed this year's "The Weight," is on board to direct from a script by Oscar nominee Steven Knight, suggesting Taylor Sheridan's original draft has been set aside.